Also, re-read a story you wrote a year ago. Do you see things you would do better now? If so, your writing IS getting better, and you're mostly suffering from lack of self confidence. Neil Gaiman confesses that, about 3/4 through writing a novel, he is ready to quit being a writer because he "knows" he's no good. And that's after winning Hugos, Nebulas, World Fantasy Awards, and many others!

I'd offer to see your work, as other generous forumites have, but I'm busy preparing for my son's wedding in a few weeks.

Thanks for the thoughts and Congrats to your son.

From what I understand most pros go through that. A couple have even quit for a while over it-that is after sells and awards.

But besides a couple of "very good"s from none writers and new writers I don't get any statements that would give me confidence. Well, usually. Two HMs from Dave help but even the editors who usual say something, like at BCS, don't add anything extra. That lazy writing comment from Edith at Universe Annex still burns.

What the hell. Send your best story my way and let's see if I can give you some input. Just keep in mind that I have yet to make a pro sale, only semi pro's. And those 2 Finalists. But I have gotten good critiques on my Semi's, and one from a major editor, so at least I know what makes a critique helpful. I'll PM my email.

I do think I am getting better. I am doing what I am told to do, so it would seem I have to be getting better.That is one thing that is frustrating-no one else thinks so. Except a couple of people over on Google+. I am doing some flash stories based on pictures. Basically just write it, spell check it and post it, sometimes with a bit of revising. Nothing like I am doing on these stories though. The stories could use some more work which I have done on a couple of them later. I do get a couple of positive comments. But that's it.

And no positive comments in the critiques either. I have read positive comments by Edith for a couple of writers but except one story a couple of years ago, she has never left me any. Pretty much the same for everyone else with any story.

I decided it was time to go back to the drawing board. The writing that made up my story turned out to be almost a mess.

So I redid the opening. Started the story later and it's more condensed. Or so I hope. The next section may stay pretty much the same. I won't say what it involves since I may send it back in the next Q2. Unless it sells by then but I don't expect that. Anyway, there are smaller areas of the next section I may delete and others rewrite as I did the opening. The ending? I am not sure. I have not gotten a lot of feedback on that.

If anyone wants to read the new version, it might be done by Sunday. Or so I plan. But I have a couple of other things to do too.

LDWriter2 wrote:I decided it was time to go back to the drawing board. The writing that made up my story turned out to be almost a mess.

So I redid the opening. Started the story later and it's more condensed. Or so I hope. The next section may stay pretty much the same. I won't say what it involves since I may send it back in the next Q2. Unless it sells by then but I don't expect that. Anyway, there are smaller areas of the next section I may delete and others rewrite as I did the opening. The ending? I am not sure. I have not gotten a lot of feedback on that.

If anyone wants to read the new version, it might be done by Sunday. Or so I plan. But I have a couple of other things to do too.

I have today, for the first time, replied to a rejection. Usually I just note the contents, take or reject any criticism and move on to the next submission.

However this 135 day personal rejection from Enter The Apocalypse was different:

The writing in this piece actually made me feel the acidic air. However the story of a man taking his family (without agreement) to some final destination doesn’t work for me as it doesn’t seem to wrap up anything.

A perceptive PR you may say. What's wrong with that?

Just this. My story contained no acidic air, nor men taking their families anywhere (with or without agreement), neither to a final destination nor anywhere else.

I am not hoping for a reprieve. I assume this error is the result of a mismatched mail-merge. However if one has come to me there must be a chance others have gone or will go out and I thought I should point this out.

Double Rant. I had submitted a sequel to Enter the Aftermath. I suppose I should expect shortly to receive a rejection for that too.

I would say you are justified in pointing that error out as it is something they should be eager to correct. I have a submission to Aftermath as well. Hopefully they have their processes in better shape when they start on that one.

Okay, I've been telling myself that I shouldn't complain too much about this because I've waited longer for a reply before, but it is driving me NUTS!

I have had my SHM story at Asimov's for 115 days now, and not a peep! Not even a change on the submission portal! Their guidelines says they mostly respond between 5 weeks, but query after 3 months. 5 weeks passed. 3 months passed. Queried. Still nothing.

The crazy part of my writer brain is going 'oh my gosh, they're never going to respond. I am stuck in a submission black hole!!!'

The more logical side of me realizes they'll get to me eventually, and they're just busy.

But, the logical side of my brain is not the dominant one when it comes to my stories. *sigh*

emilymccosh wrote:Okay, I've been telling myself that I shouldn't complain too much about this because I've waited longer for a reply before, but it is driving me NUTS!

I have had my SHM story at Asimov's for 115 days now, and not a peep! Not even a change on the submission portal! Their guidelines says they mostly respond between 5 weeks, but query after 3 months. 5 weeks passed. 3 months passed. Queried. Still nothing.

The crazy part of my writer brain is going 'oh my gosh, they're never going to respond. I am stuck in a submission black hole!!!'

The more logical side of me realizes they'll get to me eventually, and they're just busy.

But, the logical side of my brain is not the dominant one when it comes to my stories. *sigh*

Okay, I feel better.

Asimov's have been on a massive go-slow of late. They pretty much stopped reading for 100 days from June 1 for no apparent reason. But it has started moving again (and I have the form rejection to prove it ) so hang in there.